Spring catch or fastener



Patented Feb. 5, 1924. A

JOHN ARTHUR CHAMBERS, OF BELFAST, IRELAND.

SPRING QATCH OR FASTENER.

Appli cation filefl n 'rlii; 31, 1 922. Serial m. 548,304.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN ARTHUR C BERs, a British subject, residing at 126 Malone Avenue, Belfast, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Catches or Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in spring catches or fasteners, and it consists in an improved device for-securing a motor car bonnet or the side flaps of the bonnet of a motor car, or any similarly hinged cover or flap which requires to be held in its closed position with the marginal portion of its inner face in contact with an abutment and in such a manner that the flap can be instantly released and as readily secured again.

In accordance with my invention a blade spring is riveted or otherwise secured at one end upon the inner face of the flap or the like and the free end portion of the said spring is curved to adapt it to engage behind the abutment as the flap is being closed so that when the flap is pressed down it is drawn into close contact with the outer face of the abutment, the flap being formed or provided at its free horizontal edge with an inwardly rojecting flange, bead or rib adapted to ride over and, under the action of the said spring, become engaged under a catch in the form of a bevelled nose which projects from the outer face of the abutment, or, alternatively,the flap being provided on its inner face near the said edge with a projection in the form of a bevelled nose adapted to snap, under the action of the spring, into a recess or aperture formed in the abutment, the arrangement in either case being such that in order to release the flap or the like it is only necessary to exert a pull outwards on a handle provided on its outer face.

I have illustrated my invention in the ac companying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a portion of a side flap of a motor car bonnet fitted with a spring in accordance with my invention, and a corresponding portion of the abutment against which the flap is to be held when it is pressed down Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the said flap in its closed position, the open position being indicated in dotted lines; and

Figs. 3 and 4 show details hereinafter referred to.-

Referring to the drawing, A is a blade spring formed of a strip of spring steel or the like secured by bolts and nuts a upon the inner face of a flap B which is hinged at b to the curved cover plate 0 of a motor car bonnet, and D is an abutment against which the inner face of the lower marginal portion of the said flap is to be held when the flap is closed. A catch E in the form of a stud or bolt which is provided with a bevelled nose is mounted in a hole or slot in the abutment D, and the flap B is formed at its longitudinal lower edge with a bead 6 adapted to ride over and engage under the said catch when the flap is lowered from the position shown in Fig. 1 and the spring becomes engaged behind the abutment. The said abutment is in this example an upstanding part of the frame of the car.

Figs. 3 and 4 show an alternative arrangement of the catch E on the abutment D. A plate f formed with rack teeth on its outer face and in which a vertical slot is formed is secured upon the abutment by screws, and similar rack teeth are formed on the inner face of the head of the stud that constitutes the catch, so that the catch may be readily adjusted vertically and clamped securely in its adjusted position by means of a nut on the stem of the said stud.

A knob H or other handle is provided on the outer face ofthe flap or the like, and the flap is released by simply exerting a pull outwards upon such handle. A pair of handles and two or more springs A and catches E may of course be provided.

What I claim is 1. A device for retaining a motor car bonnet in its closed position with the marginal portion of its inner face in contact with an abutment, comprising in combination a blade spring which is secured at one end upon the inner face of the bonnet and the free end portion of which is curved to adapt it to engage behind the abutment and to draw the bonnet into close contact with the outer face of the abutment, a bevelled projection on the outer face of the abutment, and a projection on the inner face of the bonnet near its free horizontal edge adapted to ride over and, finder the action of the said spring, to become engaged under the projection on the abutment.

2. A device for retaining a motor car bonnet in its closed position with the marginal portion of its inner face in contact with an abutment, comprising in combination a blade spring which is secured at one end upon the inner face of the bonnet and the free end portion of which is curved to adapt it to engage behind the abutment and to draw the bonnet into close contact with the outer face of the abutment, and a beveiled projection on the outer face of the bonnet adapted to ride upon the inner face of the abutment and, under the action of the spring, to become engaged beneath the abutment.

3. A device for retaining a motor car bonnet in its closed position with the marginal portion of its inner face in contact with an abutment, comprising in combination a blade spring which is secured upon the inner face of the bonnet and adapted to engage behind the abutment, and adjustable means for engaging the bonnet with the abutment in its closed position substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JOHN ARTHUR CHAMBERS. 

